Scandal-hit Volkswagen brand sees 2015 sales fall 4.8 pct

FRANKFURT, Germany – German automaker Volkswagen says sales last year fell 4.8 percent for its flagship brand as the company struggled to overcome a scandal over cars rigged to evade diesel emissions testing.

Sales volume fell to 5,823,400 vehicles from 6,118,700. The scandal became known only in late September, so it only could have affected figures in the last months of the year.

The figures announced Friday don't include Volkswagen's other brands, such as Audi, SEAT and Skoda.